CITY OF LAKE SAINT LOUIS GREEN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 27, 2010

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1 MEETING MINUTES The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. in the Lake Saint Louis Civic Center Board Conference Room. IN ATTENDANCE: Chairman Scott Ellis, Vice Chairman Ed Young, Allyson Malek, Ann Finklang, Keith Stone, and Alderman John Pellerito. Also present: Steve Schertel, Director of Community Business, and Brenda Cueller, acting as recording secretary. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Ellis called the meeting to order. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA: Vice Chairman Young made a motion to approve the August 27, 2010 Green Environmental Advisory Committee regular meeting agenda. The motion was seconded by Committeewoman Finklang and the motion carries. THE AGENDA FROM THE GREEN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA IS HEREBY APPROVED, AS NOTED ABOVE.. MINUTES: July 30, 2010 MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES: Vice Chairman Young made a motion to approve the July 30, 2010 Green Environmental Advisory Committee regular meeting minutes. The motion was seconded by Committeewoman Finklang and the motion carries. THE MINUTES FROM THE JULY 30, 2010 GREEN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS HEREBY APPROVED, AS NOTED ABOVE. GENERAL DISCUSSIONS: OLD BUSINESS: 1. UPDATE ON RECYCLING INITIATIVES

2 Chairman Ellis stated that the drop-off recycling event will be held Saturday, October 16, 2010 and noted that the press needs to be contacted. Chairman Ellis said he will have more to say at the next meeting. The Committee had a general discussion regarding who will operate the forklift (answer: Cuivre River Electric employee) and if a large shredder should be included with this event. There was discussion of tying in the give-away of CFL bulbs at the event. Chairman Ellis said that he preferred to keep the event focused on recycling for ease of planning. Most of the containers would go to Founders Park. Chairman Ellis said he and Vice Chairman Young have been working with the City and Lake Saint Louis Community Association to get more information out about improved recycling. Chairman Ellis stated that Patrick McLaughlin, President of Christian Environmental Services, agreed to give the City 20+ trash containers. Chairman Ellis stated that he would need to check with Paul Markworth, City Administrator, regarding where to place these containers. Most of the containers would go to Founders Park. Committeewoman Malek stated she and Committeewoman Finklang decided to utilize an EPA slogan - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - for the art contest that would be open to all Lake Saint Louis resident children from Kindergarten through 5 th grade. Committeewoman Malek explained the categories for judging, what can be utilized when creating the artwork, deadline submittal for the artwork and location to be collected. Committeewoman Malek said she was going to contact local businesses regarding prizes. The Committee had a general discussion regarding type of prizes, who will judge the artwork and submitting an article to Newstime regarding the art contest. 2. UPDATE ON ENERGY CONSERVATION INITIATIVES Chairman Ellis stated an article was placed in Newstime regarding the CFL bulb giveaway. The Committee had a general discussion regarding the number of bulbs Cuivre River Electric provided the City for the give-away, and Chairman Ellis thanked Committeeman Stone for Cuivre River Electric s part is providing these energy-efficient bulbs to the residents. Committeewoman Finklang asked Committeeman Stone if Cuivre River Electric is expecting to see a general reduction in electricity use. Committeeman Stone discussed a report from Central Missouri Co-ops regarding kilowatt usage in residential homes and noted that the weather also has an impact on the amount of electricity used. Committeeman Stone said that in 6 to 9 months Cuivre River Electric is ready to offer prepaid metering for kilowatt use where people pay for kilowatt hours before they use 2

3 them. Committeeman Stone said that people pay more attention to their usage when prepaying for electricity and that a 12% reduction in kilowatt use in their homes occurs. 3. UPDATE ON BUILDING/ENGINEERING STANDARDS Steve Schertel, Director of Community Development, stated that the revised engineering standards (including new stormwater run-off standards) have been approved, and that the 2009 International Building Code goes before the Board of Aldermen September 7 th and again on October 4 th for approval. 4. UPDATE ON WATER QUALITY INITIATIVES Alderman Pellerito said a spot has been selected at Boulevard Park for the rain garden demonstration plot and St. Charles County Soil & Water Conservation District has been contacted. Alderman Pellerito said there will be a meeting on September 15, 2010 at the site to verify that the location is appropriate. Alderman Pellerito discussed the cost to build a rain garden and the possibilities of grants that may be available. Alderman Pellerito said Derek Koestel s staff may be able to help with the grants. Alderman Pellerito said Wal-Mart could provide a $1,000 grant for the rain garden. Alderman Pellerito said the City has stormwater problems some public and some private. Alderman Pellerito said some of these stormwater problems can be fixed by rain gardens and the rain garden the City wants to build will be a demonstration. He estimated the cost to build a rain garden would be around $400 to $500. Alderman Pellerito said people could view the rain garden on Arbor Day. Chairman Ellis stated that Dana Delibovi is waiting for feedback on her water quality runoff article before submitting it to Newstime. Chairman Ellis said he will go through the studies done on Peruque Creek and the two lakes and will summarize these studies for the Committee to decide if we want to get involved in water quality testing. 5. OTHER OLD BUSINESS Vice Chairman Young stated there has been no movement on PACE legislation neither state or nationally. Vice Chairman Young said that the City s legal counsel, Armstrong, Teasdale should get involved with this legislation. Alderman Pellerito stated that the Board and City would not do anything until issues were worked out at the state level. Committeewoman Finklang said the Committee should update the To Do list. 3

4 Chairman Ellis asked if anyone had ideas for articles that Dana Delibovi could write. Chairman Ellis said he is waiting for Dana to get an article published regarding stormwater runoff, before asking her to write about the City s agreement with Greene s Country Store. He will also ask Dana to write an article about our energy audit of City Hall. Alderman Pellerito said there is no movement concerning office supply purchasing at City Hall. He can t get any information from other cooperating cities. Alderman Pellerito is trying to get the name of the person who initiated this program and see what he can do. NEW BUSINESS: Vice Chairman Young said the Committee should continue looking for possible environmental quality grants related to the Community. Vice Chairman Young stated since the small cities energy grant was published, only 8% of cities have accepted their grant and the rest have turned them back. Vice Chairman Young said they are going to relook at the grant and change some of the policies to have more participation. Committeeman Stone said Cuivre River Electric s system engineer is looking at the type of lights to make this program (street light replacement) go forward. Committeeman Stone described bulb options to replace the current bulbs. Committeeman Stone said the lights should be replaced within the next year to two. Alderman Pellerito said if we get on the rain garden, this will keep us busy for a while. Alderman Pellerito said grant information will be sent to the Committee. Chairman Ellis said Paul Markworth, City Administrator, was shown a location for a bike rack in the City Hall parking lot, but it has not been installed. He will continue to monitor this and press for a bike rack at the Community Association clubhouse. Chairman Ellis asked the Committee to think of someone to invite to the next Committee meeting. The Committee had a discussion regarding whom to invite as a special speaker to the meetings. Chairman Ellis said he would like to rotate the Committee chair in January. Chairman Ellis said that he would work with Brenda Cueller and Tim Cantrell to update the Committee website. Allyson Malek agreed to help with this. TO DO LIST: Improve Committee website 4

5 Implement recommendations for City Hall operation and staff activities to reduce energy use and carbon emissions. Expand this energy analysis for other Lake Saint Louis buildings and households. Inform and educate the community through the website and articles in Newstime and The Happenings. Help to conserve green space, trees, and bike paths in the community. Consider storm water management plan and other water quality issues. Inform residents regarding utilization of pesticides and fertilizers on their lawn. Assist City staff in application for energy efficiency and other sustainability grants. Learn about City ordinances and building codes that promote energy efficiency and green living. Amend ordinance regarding landscaping plans to encourage use of native plants. Promote more participation in recycling in City. Promote greater use by the City and individuals of compact fluorescent lights (CFL). Establish a safe disposal location for CFL s. Investigate reuse of yard wastes collected in the City. Place home kwh measuring devices in local libraries. LONG-TERM ACTION PLAN: Provide green recommendations to the Board of Aldermen, including energy conservation, recycling program, green space preservation, transportation choices, and enhanced water quality practices. Establish long-term practices for education of citizens for green/sustainable living. NEXT MEETING: Friday, September 24, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. at Lake Saint Louis Civic Center Board Conference Room. AGENDA ITEMS FOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2010: OLD BUSINESS: 1. Update on recycling initiatives, including drop-off recycling event and children s art contest. 2. Update on water quality issues, including development of rain garden plot in Boulevard Park. 3. Other old business. 5

6 NEW BUSINESS: 1. Discussion of To Do List, Long-term Action Plan, and new initiatives for the Committee. 2. Committee renewal for 2011, including new officers. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:55 a.m. Approved Brenda Cueller Serving as recording secretary of the meeting 6